100 Projects in 1 Year. Week 1: Bleach Pen Shirt

I've decided to challenge myself to do 100 crafty projects in a year. I've basically skipped the month of January...but I think I'll still be able to pull it off. Here goes Week 1.

Week 1: bleach pen shirt

This was SO EASY! Seriously, like children (very careful ones) could even do this. Here is what you need.

1. a shirt that's not white (mine was $3.88 at target)

2. a bleach pen for whites (pretty cheap only about 5 or 6 bucks)

3. some plastic bags (or a piece of cardboard)

4. an old wash rag that you don't mind getting bleach on

I decided to cover my entire shirt with lyrics from Bullet Soul by Switchfoot. Some tutorials you read will tell you to draw the design in chalk first, I didn't do that. I was brave and went straight to work. The gel will bleed into the shirt a little bit so factor that into your design. 

Okay, step one: Put something (I used plastic bags) between the front and back of the shirt so that the bleach doesn't bleed through. Card board, wax paper, or plastic bags will do the trick.

Step two: Draw or write whatever you want on your shirt. Let the bleach sit for a while. You can see the fabric changing colors, so whenever you like what you see it's time for step three

.

Mine looked like this after I finished writing the lyrics:

Step three: Take the shirt to the sink or the bathtub and wash the gel off. I just put mine under the bathtub faucet and rubbed the gel off with my fingers.

Step four: Then I threw it in the washer with a few towels and hung it up to dry. Putting it in the dryer won't hurt your bleach artwork at all... I just didn't want my shirt to shrink.

Luckily, it's really warm for January and I'm going to wear it tomorrow! YAY I love warm weather.

This is what it looks like now:

Here is a link for another in depth tutorial with a few more pictures. 

Really, the possibilities are endless. I still have some bleach left in the pen so I'm going to be experimenting with it some more. If you try it, I'd love to see what you do! Link to it in the comments!

xoxo

Krackle

Only 3 More Days!!

Somehow, I found about three hours to put together this headband that I LOVE. In fact, i'm wearing it to class in about 5 minutes :-). Thought I would share...hopefully I can make a few more to sell at Saline-O-Ween! It's only 3 days away you should come visit us!!

Be crafty!

-Krackle

Trying New Things.

So, I sat down today, my first day of this week without homework, and I decided to broaden my crochet horizons. :-) I made a headband, which is really easy because you just make a band and then sew the short ends together. BUT I also learned to make...wait for it...a FLOWER :-))) I am so excited about it. The first one I made was kind of huge. So I found a pattern for a smaller one. Then the pattern didn't work for me. Finally, I just made up my own flower pattern and it turned out really cute. Of course, I just used yarn that was available to me so it isn't all that fashionable BUT if I can do it with crazy yarn, then I can do it with any yarn.

The first flower (like I said kind of huge).

My made up flower :-).

Be crafty and broaden your horizons!

-Krackle

Hand Warmer Thingies

So my first pair of hand warmers are finished and they fit and they're cute. I'm so excited. I'm not really sure if "hand warmers" is the correct name...but that's just what I've been calling them. Total number of hours spent working on them was probably about five or six. I'm taking a break from working on my second pair to make this post, but I just wanted to share some pictures. My roommate so graciously agreed to be my lovely hand model :-).

Crafty

I don't know how to tell you this, but I kinda love knitting. And anything crafty really. I've been knitting these things I like to call ipod snuggies. I'm also trying to master the hand warmers. AND I've also been making some button rings. Super easy to make and super cute :-).